FH16-660’s lead Hutchinson’s return to Volvo fleet dominance

Newark-based quarry equipment specialists Hutchinson Engineering Services Ltd. have taken delivery of two new Volvo FH16–660 trucks, with more on order, to make Volvo their leading marque. The 8x4 tractor units will be used to transport a variety of quarrying and heavy construction plant and are plated for operation at 150 tonnes GCW.

“We first chose Volvo after trying other makes because they provide the most suitable range of trucks for our operations, backed up by what we hope is the best aftersales package available,” says John Paine, the company’s Transport Manager. “That was in 1994, when we bought our first FH; now around a third of our fleet of 20 trucks are Volvo’s and we have seven more on order, ranging from a 26 tonne rigid to another FH16 like these two – so the fleet will once again be mostly Volvo.”

The new FH16’s are equipped with I-Shift automated gearboxes and T-ride heavy-duty rear suspension. Tyres are 385/65 on the front-axles with 315/80’s on the drive-axles. The sliding Jost fifth wheels couple to a range of trailers, mostly Nooteboom tri-axle beavertails and low loaders.

The trucks will stay on the fleet strength for a planned 5-6 years and maintenance will be carried out by supplying Volvo Dealer Hartshorne at Alfreton on a 2-year Volvo contract.

“We’ve been dealing with Hartshorne since 1994,” says John, “and I must praise the aftersales backup to the hilt ! We try to keep to ‘one driver, one truck,’” he continues, “and the drivers seem well pleased with their FH16-660’s. At the moment, piling rigs dominate our workload, with a lot of imported loading shovels and excavators arriving at the Humber ports almost daily – and, of course, crushers and pre-used machines being exported.”